2010 was a fantastic year for solar power. New advances lowered prices, increased efficiency, and made solar power accessible to a larger group of people than ever before. Combined with increased public awareness and an emphasis on “going green,” this made the growth of solar power skyrocket. According to multiple industry groups and energy analysts, this trend is expected to continue.

What does this mean for the future? Private installations alone are expected to reach 10 gigawatts. That does not sound like much, but it would be enough to power more than 2 million homes. That is also not taking into account the fact that more and more local governments are offering rebates and incentives for homeowners to install solar panels.

On a wider scale, the US government is increasingly aware of the need for alternative energy. Some experts are proposing plans that would hugely shrink our dependence on foreign oil. More and more money is being spent on alternative energy; however, getting enough funding to truly advance the national power system remains a concern.

Overall, the future of solar power in the US seems brighter than ever. It is one of the cleanest and most available forms of alternative energy. It is very possible that soon the US will be getting most of its energy from solar power.